By Ron Smith
October 3, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) In a game characterized by nine cards and 31 fouls, Westmont Men's Soccer (4-2-3, 1-1 PacWest) fell 2-1 to Azusa Pacific (2-5, 1-1) on Thursday afternoon at Thorrington Field. Westmont gave up two early goals, made up for one, but could not find the equalizer.
 
"We didn't look as fresh and hungry as we normally do," acknowledged Westmont's head coach Morgan Cathey. "I don't know if that is the overall load that we had in non-conference, or if it is a culmination of things. Guys have played a lot and it is catching up to us."
 
The Cougars scored in just the 11th minute of the game after Andrew Gomez dribbled down the left side of the field. Just above the 18, Gomez dribbled perpendicular to the top of the box, then fired off a shot with his right foot, sending the ball near the right-hand post. Westmont goalkeeper Brady Highfill dove and blocked the shot, but the ball ricocheted back into play. Luis Solis, running in from the right, one touched the ball just inside the right post.
 
Then in the 22nd minute, Raul Lavado dribbled down the right side of the field and fired from eight-yard out. His shot hit the far post and bounced into the goal.
 
"The first 20 minutes was indicative of us not showing the desire and discipline we need to show to be successful," stated Cathey. "A huge credit to Azusa to manufacture what they did in the first 20 minutes. It was really high level.
 
"I think you can boil it down to they had more desire than us and we weren't very sharp to start the game. When you are not very sharp and you have an opponent that is showing their willingness and desire and is out-muscling and out-hustling and winning duels, it doesn't matter who the opponent is, we are going to have a tough time."
 
"After the 20 minutes, we had the ball in areas that we wanted to be. They changed shapes in this game against us. They had three central defenders that take up a lot of space and can defend well the spaces in and around them and behind them. They were effective. Even if we were really sharp, their three center backs did well to deal with everything we tried to pose."
 
The Warriors' lone goal came in the 26th minute. From 19-yards out near the left touch line, Daniel Tuscano lofted a free kick in a diagonal across the face of the goal. As he did, Serkan Durna broke for the far post. As the ball arrived, so did Durna and he chested the ball into the net.
 
The next 64 minutes of play proved to be fruitless for both teams.
 
"Beside the first 20 minutes, I thought we were in good control of every phase," noted Cathey. "I think we had a lot of clear chances, but we couldn't capitalize. I think there were a lot of loose balls, but, today, we missed the final moment."
 
There were times during the game, especially in the second half, when neither team could establish momentum as a result of stoppages of play caused by frequent fouls and the issuing of cards. Westmont was charged with 17 fouls while Azusa Pacific tallied 14. The Cougars were carded six times (five yellow, one red), all in the second half. Westmont was charged with three yellow cards.
 
In the 70th minute, the Cougars' Timo Wurtemberger was ejected from the game after picking up his second card. That gave the Warriors an advantage of 11 men to 10.
 
"The game can become even more difficult when you are up a man in the last 20 minutes," explained Cathey. "Now, your opponent is really just sitting back. It means that you have to be even more patient than you need to be when you are 11-v-11. When we were up a man, we created four really good moments in 20 minutes. Unfortunately, none of them materialized."
 
Westmont outshot Azusa Pacific 6-0 in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
"I think that we were late in moments and we were over-aggressive in moments that we didn't need to be," said Cathey of the Warriors' fouls. "I think one of our yellow cards should not have been called. However, we are toward the higher end of fouls and we need to control moments of the game when we don't need to foul."
 
The Warriors now turn their collective attention to Saturday when they travel to San Diego to take on the Sea Lions of Point Loma (5-1-2, 3-0 PacWest). Kick-off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.